Garment hanger



W. R. RICHARDS GARMENT HANGER Aug. 15, 1939.

Filed Aug. 22, 1958 Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in garment hangers for domestic and. other uses.

It has for one of its objects to provide a deviceof this character which will effectually and conveniently support a plurality of garments, and which is simple, compact and durable in construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a garment hanger of this character wherein the combined coat and trouser or skirt supporting elements are so designed as to permit the ready application and removal of the suspended trouser or other garment to and from the hanger.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the garment hanger embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section. Figure 3 is an end view of the same. Figure 4 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the hanger.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, the hanger is so designed as to readily and conveniently support a plurality of such articles of apparel as coats, trousers or skirts and hats, and to this end it comprises a body shaped to receive a coat or the like, flexible trouser or skirt-supporting bars disposed in substantially parallel relation between the lower ends of the body and free to expand and contract or open and close, in response to contracting and expanding movements of the body to thereby readily receive and effectually support the article of apparel suspended between them, and a hat hanger applied to the upper end of the body.

The body H] of the hanger which is shaped to receive a coat or the like consists of diverging or downwardly-sloping arms or shoulder supports I l, I l terminating at their lower ends in pendant portions l2, l2 and joined at their opposing inner or upper ends by a substantially arched or bowed resilient tie member [3 which may be formed integral with the arms II or which may be in the form of a separate part welded or otherwise fastened to such arms. By preference, the arms H smooth edges for contact with the garment supported. The resilient tie member 13 normally holds the arms H in a predetermined expanded position and enables the arms to be contracted are channel-shaped to provide for a purpose which Will hereinafter appear. Rising from the resilient member it of the hanger body is a suspension hook M.

Disposed side by side in substantially parallel relation between the pendant portions l2 of the hanger body are longitudinally flexible trouser or skirt or skirt-supporting bars l5 between which the garment is adapted to be clamped for suspension. Extending inwardly from the pendant portions I 2 are suitable brackets I 6 having attaching flanges ll which may be welded to such portions I2 and to which the companion ends of the bars I 5 are pivoted, as indicated at It, whereby a pivoting or swiveling action between the trouser hanger bars and the coat hanger arms may be effected. As shown in Figure 4, the bars l5 are attached to opposite sides of the respective brackets I6 whereby they are disposed in predetermined spaced relation. Intermediate their ends these bars are outwardly bilged, as indicated at IS, in symmetrical fashion so that upon contracting the shoulder-arms ll about the resilient tie member I3, the attaching portions l2 are displaced inwardly resulting in a lateral spreading of the trouser-bars IE to enable the trousers to be inserted between the bars prior to being clamped, or upon their removal. When the contracting pressure is released from the shoulder-arms, the trouser-supporting bars l5 again contact and effectually clamp the trousers in a suspended position. The bilged portions [9 of these bars act to facilitate the spreading of the bars upon the contraction of the shoulderarms ll.

Projecting laterally from the point of attachment of the suspension hook I4 with the hanger body is a hat support which may be shaped as shown and which may be supported in a fixed position or may, if desired, be mounted to swivel about the axis of the suspension hook.

While manifestly simple and compact in construction, this improved garment hanger serves a multiple purpose and the combined flexibility or resiliency of its coat and trouser-hanger portions makes it possible to readily apply and remove trousers and like suspended garments to and from the hanger with a minimum of effort and without the use of independently-actuated clamping devices.

I claim as my invention:

1. A garment hanger, comprising a body shaped to receive a coat and including normally-expanded diverging arms and an intermediate resilient tie member disposed in a common plane and capable of contracting to vary the distance between their terminal ends, and flexible trousersupporting means disposed between and attached at their ends to the companion ends of said arms and adapted to spread and contract laterally in response to the contracting and expanding movements of said arms. 4

2. A garment hanger, comprising a body shaped to receive a coat and including oppositely-extending shoulder supports joined at their opposing ends by a resilient tie member and terminating at their outer ends in pendant portions, and a pair of flexible trouser-supporting bars disposed in substantially parallel relation between said pendant portions.

3. A garment hanger, comprising a body shaped to receive a coat and including a substantially resilient central portion and arms extending outwardly therefrom terminating in attaching per tions, and flexible trouser-supportingbars disposed side by side between and secured to the terminal attaching portions of said arms, whereby, upon contracting and expanding said arms about the resilient portions of said body and in the plane of the latter, the trouser-supporting arms are caused to spread and contract laterally.

4. A garment hanger, comprising a body shaped to receive a coat and including oppositely-extending shoulder supports joined at their opposing ends by a resilient tie member and terminating at their outer ends in pendant portions, and a pair of flexible trouser-supporting bars disposed side by side between the pendant portions of said shoulder-supports and havingpivotal connections thereto.

5. A garment hanger, comprising a body shaped to receive a. coat and including oppositely-extending shoulder supports joined at their opposing ends by a resiilent tie member and terminating at their outer ends in pendant portions, brackets extending inwardly from said pendant portions, and longitudinally-flexible, trouser-supporting bars disposed in adjoining relation lengthwise between the pendant portionsof the shoulder supports and pivotally connected at their ends to said brackets, said bars being outwardlybilged at points intermediate their ends.

WILLARD R. RICHARDS. 

